Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Buku harian itu saya bawa ke kantor.

Indonesian often fronts the object to make it the topic or focus. Buku harian itu saya bawa ke kantor roughly feels like “As for that diary, I took it to the office,” emphasizing the diary. The neutral, subject-first version is Saya membawa buku harian itu ke kantor. Meaning-wise, both are fine; the fronted version highlights the object.

Why is it "saya bawa" and not "saya membawa"?

After a fronted object, Indonesian commonly uses the bare verb (no meN-), giving saya bawa. With subject-first order you use the meN- form: Saya membawa buku harian itu ke kantor. So:

Object-first: Buku harian itu saya bawa ...
Subject-first: Saya membawa ...

Is this sentence passive?

Many grammars call this the “short passive” or “passive type 2” (Buku itu saya bawa). In English, though, it’s usually translated actively (“I took the diary to the office”). Functionally, it puts focus on the object while still naming the agent.

Can I say "Buku harian itu dibawa saya ke kantor"?

Yes, Buku harian itu dibawa saya ke kantor is grammatical and more formal/literary. In everyday speech, Buku harian itu saya bawa ke kantor sounds more natural. You may also see Buku harian itu kubawa ke kantor (using the clitic ku- for “I”).

How do I say it with a normal subject-first order?

Use the active meN- form: Saya membawa buku harian itu ke kantor. Informal alternatives:

Aku membawa buku harian itu ke kantor
Buku harian itu kubawa ke kantor (with ku-)
Jakarta colloquial: Gue bawa buku harian itu ke kantor

What does "itu" do here? Does it mean “that” or “the”?

Itu is the distal demonstrative (“that”), but it also marks definiteness. Buku harian itu = “that/the (specific) diary.” Contrast with ini = “this.” A formal equivalent is tersebut (“the aforementioned”).

Can I drop "itu"?

You can, but the meaning shifts/gets less specific. Buku harian saya bawa ke kantor often reads as “I took my diary to the office,” or as a generic/unspecified diary. If you mean a particular previously known diary, keep itu. To say “a diary,” you can use sebuah buku harian.

What’s the difference between "bawa", "membawa", and "bawakan"?

bawa: bare root (“bring/carry/take”)
membawa: active meN- form (“to bring/carry/take” in subject-first sentences)
bawakan: benefactive/causative, “bring (something) for (someone).” Examples:
Saya membawa buku harian itu. (I brought the diary.)
Tolong bawakan saya buku harian itu. (Please bring me the diary.)

Does "bawa" mean both “bring” and “take” in Indonesian?

Yes. Bawa covers both “bring” and “take” depending on context. If you need to be explicit, you can add words like pergi (away) or use other verbs like antar (escort/deliver) or ambil (pick up).

What’s the function of "ke" in "ke kantor"? How is it different from "di kantor"?

Ke marks destination (“to”), while di marks location (“at/in”).

ke kantor = to the office
di kantor = at the office

Can I move "ke kantor" earlier in the sentence?

Word order is flexible, but some orders sound more natural:

Natural: Buku harian itu saya bawa ke kantor.
Also okay (marked focus on destination): Ke kantor saya membawa buku harian itu.
Less common but possible: Saya membawa ke kantor buku harian itu. Default is to put ke kantor at the end.

What does "buku harian" literally mean? Are there synonyms?

Literally “daily book.” It’s the set phrase for “diary.” Synonyms/near-synonyms include catatan harian (daily notes/diary) and jurnal (journal; often more formal/academic).

How do I express time/aspect, like “already,” “just,” or habitual?

Indonesian uses particles/adverbs:

Already: Buku harian itu sudah saya bawa ke kantor.
Just (recently): Buku harian itu baru saja saya bawa ke kantor.
Habitual: Buku harian itu biasanya saya bawa ke kantor.

Can I omit "saya"?

Yes, if the agent is irrelevant or understood. Use a di- passive: Buku harian itu dibawa ke kantor (“The diary was taken to the office”). Without an agent, it’s anonymous/unspecified. If you want to keep the focus construction but drop the agent, you’d typically switch to di-.

Could this sentence be a relative clause meaning “the diary that I took to the office”?

As written, it’s a full sentence. To make a relative clause (a noun modifier), add yang: Buku harian yang saya bawa ke kantor = “the diary that I took to the office.”

Are there register/colloquial variants of the whole sentence?

Yes:

Neutral/formal: Saya membawa buku harian itu ke kantor.
Short passive (very common): Buku harian itu saya bawa ke kantor.
With clitic: Buku harian itu kubawa ke kantor.
Jakarta colloquial: Buku harian itu gue bawa ke kantor.